Centrifugal ore-separator.



P. P. PECK.

GENTRIFUGALVORE SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APBJ], 1010.

Patented Jan. 17,1911.

2 BKEETS-SHEET I.

iii-HI Ill.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

P. P. PECK.

CENTRIFUGAL ORE SBPARATOK.

' v. APPLICATION TILED APE-.11. 1910. 981,682.

. Patented Jan. 17, 19 11] 'IHVENTOR WW fM-,

; UNITED sTATns PATENT orrron.

Palmer. men, or Tacoma, wasmncrron.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Pinup l Pnox, a

' citizen of the United States, residing at- Tacoma, S d of Washin ton, have invented 5 certain 118a? and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Ore-Separators, of which the /following is a specification.

My present invention relates to the en cral type of centrifugal separators to w ich I50 belongs iy pending application Serial Number 551,921, filed March 28,1910, cross reference to which is hereby made and in which application is claimed substance, a vertically adjustable multi-chambencd re- 'oeptacle with a centrifugal separating member and hydraulic and wedge-shaped mechanism to ellect adjustment of such receptacle in combination with automatic control mechanism of the separator, and other elemerits, parts of which are disclosed in this application.

. The ob'ects ofiny' invention are more especially directed to the relative association ofthe separating vessel and the launder,

and mechanism for o crating the latter to suitably coliperate wit the former.

In the drawings, Figure l, is partly a cen- {ml vertical cross section and part in side elevation of m: separator, showing the launder in the position it occupies during the concentrating period. Fig. 2, is a detail top plan view of the spider and wedge mechanism for effecting movement of the launder, also showing a. part of the hydraulic cylinder, and some small parts in section. 3', is similarto Fig. 1, but showing the separating vessel all in side elevation and the launder elevated to the position it ocfi'cupies during the unloading period, and

showing other parts in appropriate "tidaljtions for that period. Fig. 4, is a cross set-.-

.tion of a part of Fig. 1. on line A--A, of Fig. 1, loolciug in the direction of the or,- rows, but omitting the wedge mechanism.

l ,Fig. 5, is a vertical transverse section of a ortiorrof the lower part of my separator, lii line'through the slot in such part, also showing a portion of the wedge mechanism and its carrying agencies in side elevation. Fig. 6, is a detail longitudinal central set tion of a discharge plug enlarged.

In making my improved centrifugal ore $6 arator, I provide a. rotatable member 2, wt ich is illustrated in the form of a vessel,

and which serves as a separating vessel, havingaclosed bottom and open top. The bot- Specification ream Patent.

Application filed April 11, 1910.

CENTRIFUGAL ORE-SEPABA'IOR. I

Serial No. 554,805.

tom of the vessel has a central hub 3, that engages rigidly a shaft 4, which is mounted in journal boxes 5 and 6, respectively, to maintain it vertically. The vessel is rotated lr, a pulley 2' adapted ,to carry a suitable drin'ng belt (not shown). The journal box 5, is attached to the upper part of a suitable general supporting frame 7, and the box (3. is secured to the bed plate 8, of the separator, and the lower end of the shaft is stepped in the box 6, to carry its weight.

The separating vessel, is turned smoothly and concentric to its shaft. or axis, and on its inner peripheral wall is a separating surface 9, over which the substance to be separated passes. as hereinafter described. The top or rim of the open end of the vessel is flangedoutward, as shown and indicated by 10, which flange has an annular recess at. its outer top edge, into which the depending peripheral part or edge of the plate shaped ring 11, is seated; this depending part being some rrcater in width than the depth of the annuar recess in the flange 10, there is left between the ring and the flange, when the (W0 are seated together, an annular space 12. The main pat-tot the ring is made wide enough to extend inwardsmne distance toward the axis of the vessel as illustrated, thereby partly closing the opening in the top of the vessel.

llhe sepa rating vessel is preferably made with-its walls and the separating surface inclined outward from its bottom to its top or open end, making it of greater diameter at this end, which the discharge end of the vessel. and the plate or ring 11, extends a greater distance toward the axis than the extent of outward slant, or inclination of the wall of the vessel. no that the bore or opening of the ring is less in diameter than the inner diameter of the bottom of the vesscl so as to hold a sutlicient amount of liquid in the vessel to more than fill the separating passage and submerge the separating surface, when desired.

The ring 11, is held in place on the flange of the separting vessel by the screws 13, which pass through it and are threaded into the flange. This ring, around its outer diameter, through its depending part is provided with a row of screw-threaded holes, communicating with the space 12, into which are removably screwed discharge plugs or members 14, that are provided with small holes 15, shown best in enlarged sectional Fig. 6,

Patented Jan. 17, 1911. i

I 'of suitable size to permit of desired discharge of liquid and material, yet to retain "a sutlicient quantity of liqpid in the vessel to ".vill. refer to this supporting element as the detlector vessel. The deflector vessel has a closed bottom, and an open top, except that 1 at its top is a ring l8, flanged or extended a desired distance inward toward the axis of rotation. This vessel is somewhat smaller in diameter than the inside of the separating vessel 2. thereby leaving the separating passage 16; adjacent to the separating surface;

' I will term a feed ring,

it is also somewhat shorter than the inside of the separating vessel, andhas a central hub 19, which securely and rigidly engages the lower portion of a sleeve 20, that is mounted in a rotatable manner around the central shaft .4. The lower end of the sleeve 20, rests in a rotatable manner on the upper end of the hub 3, and is suitablyproportioned to hold the bottom of the vessels 2 and 17, apart sutliciently to leave a comparatively small space 21, between them, as shown. The upper end of the sleeve 20, is provided with a pulley 22, by which the sleeve with the deflector may be revolved differentially to the separating vessel, byineans of a suitable bclt (not shown)" from an appropriate source of-power. Around the hub 19, of the deflector, I pro ide a ring 23, which rises above the bottom of the deflector vessel, and forms a feed chamber 24. This ring, which has a central opening at its top, sufiiciently larger than the outer diameter of the hub 19, to'leavc a suitable annular space around the hub, through which liquid and material, as well as concentrate-removing water may be introduced into the feed chamber 24, by means of a feed pipe 25. The feed ring in this instance is formed integral with the deflector vessel. Near the outer wall of the feed chamber 24, are provided a number of holes 26, through the bottom of the deflector vessel, which serve as material and liquid passages from the feed chamber down into the space 21, whence such material and liquid, actuated by centrifugal force, are driven into the separating passage, where separati n or concentration takes place. 7 i

The deflector member, in addition to the deflector vessel, which serves as the supporting part or element 17, embodies an expansible and contractible element 27, which 1 will term an expansible element, and is in the nature of a covcrin or jacket, secured to and supported by the deflector vcsseL This latter element serves the otliee of generating a frictional wash in the separating passage to assist in separation and of regulating the size of the separating passage,

which facilitates bedding of the concentrates times; the further during the loading or concentrating period and the latter during the unloading period, and between these periods it is usually advantageous to remove. discharge and collect separately a comparatively small intermediate or middlings product, which is lat-gel made up of the material in transit through the separating vessel at the time and immediately after the flow of pulp to the vessel is discontinued preparatory to unloading concentrates. As means for catching and receiving the tailings or waste, the middlings and the concentrates products separately, while. lieing' di charged from the separating vessel, and to deliier them separately for further di pu-itiwm I provide a suitably shaped, preferably metal launder 30, having several stparaterom mrtnients, being a multi-chamliered receptaole-in this instance I have provided three of such compar ments,-'as indicated b3, 31., 32 and 33, which are intended and adaptel to receive the tailings, middlings and con-- Each of these cone Centrates, ltSpGCt'lVtlfi. partments is provided with an annular opening in the direction toward the axis of the vessel and is of size and is suitably located relatively and with relation to the several discharge plugs 14, in the vessel, so \Yliell the launder, during o ieration, is moved to its different positions, as hereinafter deserilwd. materials being discharged from the vessel will be delivered into the particular compartment desired to receive it. Eachof the compartments in the launder is provided with dis charge passages through its respective spout 34, 3-3 and 36, for the separate flow of material or water from the different compartments. As means for moving the launder in positions so each of tbecompartments will catch the rticular materials intended for it, I provide? rods 37, (in this instance there are four rods) which are attached to the lower or under part of the eader and exman...

extends down in a reciprocatory manner shaft. in turn. servesthe same purpose for the 'of the spit er, so as to notonly serve to supnaintaiuing and guiding the shaft 41. in

tend them down through the bed plate 8,; some considerable distance, where they each }):I S through the end portion of anarni of a suit-able spider 38. The rods pass through guide posts or parts 39, in a travolable manner, which posts are suitably located on and attached ,to the bed plate of the separator, so as to form guides to the rods and assist in keeping them in alinemcnt and in position. The lower end portions of the rods are made somewhat smaller in, diameter than the upper portions, and are provided with screw threads, having nuts 40, on them, which restv on the upper sides of their respective arms iort the rods and launder, butv also as facility through which the distance between spider and launder may be adjusted. The spider at its central hub portion. rigidly engages a comparatively short shaft 41, which into-the bore of the lower or huo portion 42, of a substantial depending bracket 43, which is rigidly secu'red at its upper end portion, to the under side of the base plate of the separator. This bracket serves as means for desired position, and in alinement, and the spider part. 38. The hub portion 42, of the bl'tlt'l'ltt lfi provided with ears 44, extending outwardly on two of its diametrically opposite sides, and between the ears ia s l ot which extends through the hub illus-" trated, up a suitable 'listance abovethe cars to serve the purposes intended, which 130st tion is best shown in Figs. 4 and I. There is in like manner a slot through the lower portion of the shaft 41, which .is approximately the same width as the slot in the hub,

and registers with that slot. Between the cars 44, approximately located. and of suit able size, are rollers 45, maintained in place by pins 46. and within the slot of the shaft 41;- appropriately located, is a roller 4?.

maintained in place by the pin 48.

As means for effecting: reciprocation of the shaft -11, with its spider 3S, and the rods 37. as well as their superimposed launder. I provide a bar 49, of suitable size and thicuncss. having its lower edge straight, even and smooth. and being provided on its upper edge or side, with multiple wedge shaped portions 50 and 51, and with an interposed straight. portion 52, between the wedge shaped portions. The bar 49, is adapted to he slid or traveled through the slots in the hub and shaft 41, by passing over the rollers 45, adunder the roller'fi, so that the bar will support the shaft 41, and its connected parts through contact of the roller 47, on its upper edge, and further, these parts Wlll he traveled upward and be permitted to travel downward to conform to the surface contour lengthwise and the. roller 4.7, rollsalong the upper surface of these wedged shaped parts. To actuate or cfi'ect. travel of this bar 49;1 have provided a suitable hydraulic cylinder .33. with its piston rod 54, at. one end, carrying a suitable pistonhead 55, while its other end extends out of the cylinder through an ordinary suitable packing box 56, and enthe piston rod is moved by hydraulic pressure in the cylinder, the bar 49, will be corrcspondingly traveled. 4

As means for holclinp the cylinder 53, in place I have provided a stay 58, having a T head at), at one end, which I have secured to two of the ears ll, by screw bolts 60. The other end of this stay I have extended out a suitable distance and have screwed it rigidly to the cylinder. by screw bolts 61.

The hydraulic cylinder or member is provided with suitable water pipes 62, and 3, and these pipesare provided with branch Pipes (1% and (35, adapted to supply water under pressure at desired times from any appropriate source; there are also branch pipes (it; and 67. provided, adapted to afford escape channels for water from the cylinder at desired times. lhesop pes are supplied with suitablevalves (38, 69, T0 and 71, respectively. the valves being relatively placed so when the feed or pressure valve at one at that end, as well as the feed valve attlie and the escape valve at the opposite end of the cylinder will be open, thcrebyenabling actuating liquid under pressure to pass-in one end of crlinder and drive the iiston .1 1 head and rod in a direction fronrthat end while liquid is escaping from the opposite side of the piston head, and vice versa by the reverse movement of the valves. These valves are provided with handles 72, 73, 74 and 75. which are located relatively to be coupled to a rod 76, as shown, so that by be moved at the same time, and movement. of the piston rod, had when and in the direction desired, tl$- pending on which way the'lod 76, is moved: I prefer however for best. convenience that the valves be located so movement of the rod 76. upward, will efi'ect raising of the launder.

The height ofthe wedges, and the dis openings of the several compartments in the launder are intended to be substantiall the same so lthe vertical movement of the aunder, caused by the travel of the wedges, will be proper and the wedges will be adapted to move the launder so these annular openings will be in suitable alinement to receive materials being discharged through the plugs th from the separating vessel.

of the wedges 50 and 51, asthe'bar is moved There are'handles 77 and 7 8, provided on gages one end of thebar 49, as shown, so, as.

opposite end of the cylinder will he closed,

movement of this rod, all of the handles willend of the cylinder is open the escape valve/ actuating the bar, will befl.

its

taut-e or spacing between the centers of the T valves 79 and 80, that govern the flow of are relatively located and hinged to a fulsite position.

1 introdut crumed lever 83, thrqugh a connecting link 84, so that when one valve is open, the other is closed, and by predetermined movement of the lever (3, the valves assume an oppo- The lever 83, is fulcrumed at 85,- to the frame work of the separator, and has its opposite end suitably hinged at 86, to the launder as illustrated, in relative posi tion so that the valves are appropriately and automatically opened and closed by and through the movement of the launder, to

pulp for separation and concentrate-removing water at the appropriate times with respect to the position of the launder. These movements are preferably so that the eom nirtment ill. will catch the tailings, while pulp is being fed to the vessel: the compartment 32, will receive middling-gs inuncdiately after stoppage of feed of pulp, :nd the compartment 33, will receive con ntrates while concentrate-removlog water is being introduced, and the vessel unloaded.

In operation, the separating vessel is rotated at a sufficient speed to develop the high degree of centrifugal force required to retain the concentrates on the separating surface, and the deflector is rotated at a. sutiieiently dithrrent speed to enable the expansion element, through travel dill'erentially to the separating surface to create a washing or liquid scouring friction'sullicient to wash and keep the waste substances moving to discharge, while the concentrates accumulate in a bed on'the separating surface; the rod 76, is then movedldownward, shifting its attached valve handles, resulting in the hydraulic member, or hydrostatic agencles traveling the wed es outward, withdrawing them to their all extent and lowering the launder to its lowest operating position adapted to receive tailings from the separating vessel, in the compartment 31, .which is intended for them. By this 'rnovcment cf the 'launder,'the pulp feed valve 49, is opened through its connection with the launder, by the lever 83, and the concentrate-removing water valve 80, if open, is, by the same means, closed. By opening or the pulp feed valve pulp in a. state appropriately dilute is introduced to the eparating vessel in sutlicient quantities to form and maintain a desired body (mostly liquid) therein to fill the separating passage and submerge the separating surface as well as to supply the appropriate volume to pass through the separating passagcjorseparation and to progressively accum'ulate the desired lode or bed of concentrates; after this condition has prevailed until the separating vessel is sufliciently loaded with concentrates, the rod 76, is moved upward, which moves the water governing valves to the cylinder and through hydraulic pressure, effects movement of the piston in the cylinder, thereby actuating the wedge carrying means, entering the wedge 50, under the roller 47, and lifting the launder till the time when the roller 47, has reached and is passing over the interposed straight portion 52, when, and during the time the roller 47, is traveling over the interposed straight portion, the launder will remain at rest. At this time the launder has reached a position adapted for the coinpartmcnt 32, to receive material discharged by the separating vessel,it being the time .when middlings are being discharged;-

through this movement, the launder also having closed the pulp supply valve, tailings have ceased to be discharged. if desired some water may, during this time, be introduced to the vessel to cleanse the surface of the bclded concentrates and assist in removal and discharge of middliugs, this however will be continued for but a comparatively short time before the hydraulic member in its course of travel, will drive the wedge 51, under the roller 47, and move the launder upward to its fullest extent, in position so the compartment 33, will receive material from the separating vessel.

'lly this last, movement of the launder, the

concentrateremoving \vatcr valve will be opened through the lever 83, so that .compa rativel y clean water will be introduced in the vessel, and the rotating speed of the vessel should then, by any desired suitable means, be considerably decreased to suilicientl y reduce the. re iaining ccr Qrifugal force acting on the concentrates, thereby enabling the clean water to dislodge and carry the concentrates to discharge from the vessel, to he caught in their appropriate compartment in the launder, which at this time is in position to receive them. It will be seen that the bar or member carrying the alternate wedge-shaped and straight portions serves as means for moving the launder or nmlti-chambcrcd receptacle into positions successively to receive the tailings,middlings and concentrates in their respective chambers, and at the straight portions, of eilecting a state of rest of the receptacle at such several positions. After the concentrates have been discharged, the concentrating speed of the. vessel should be restored and the rod 76, moved downward again, which will result in movement of the launder to its low position appropriate to catch tailings; this movement of the launder will also close all the flow of concentrate-removing water, and will open the pulp feed valve and result in concentration as before, and

the operation of the separator may be conatlaptwi to intermittently discharge tailmgs, initltllings tinned by. si ceessivcly repeating these cycles of movements.

\\'hat I re ard as new and desire to secure 3 a a 7 I Jnstabie mu.ti-cnainbcrcil receptacle adapted by Letters Patent is:

1. In a centrifugal ore separator, the cumliination of a rotatable separating member ccntrat -s in the (lltlt'l named, in their readapted to intermittentiv discharge tailings, lnicldlings and concentrates successively through the same openings, a vertically :ttljn'stahle mnlti-ehainbcred receptacle adapted to receive said tailings, .uiiilillings and concentrates in the order named, in their respective chambers, with hydraulically actuated IQClPI'OCHlfltE means carr ing, multiple alternate wedge-shaped portions and straight portions, adapted to actuate said multiehamlierml receptacle, substantially as til,- scrihetl.

2. In. a centrifugal ore separator, the combiuation of a rotatable separating member amt concentrates successively through the same openings, a vertically adlo receive 'sairl tailing, middlings and conspcctire chainlwrs, with hydraulically actuated rcciprocable members carrying multiple aitcriiatc \rctign -slia aal portions and straight portions, adapted in actuate said mult -chamherctl receptacle, and means adapted to automatically temporarily arrest the movement of said rcciprocable members intermediate their limits of travel, substantially as (It-scribed. v

PHILIP F. PECK.

Witnesses:

.\1. E. Canrianm,

X. it. (loLLIXS. I 

